Coronavirus News Highlights: Maha reports 8,535 new COVID cases, 156 deaths; Mumbai caseload at 558

Maha reports 8,535 new COVID cases, 156 deaths; Mumbai caseload at 558 

Maharashtra on Sunday reported 8,535 fresh coronavirus positive cases and 156 fatalities while 6,013 patients recovered, the state health department said. With the fresh additions, the tally of cases in Maharashtra rose to 61,57,799 and the toll to 1,25,878. The total count of recoveries so far climbed to 59,12,479, leaving the state with 1,16,165 active cases, it said in a statement. Maharashtra's case recovery rate now stands at 96.02 per cent and the fatality rate is 2.04 per cent. Mumbai reported 558 fresh cases during the day and 15 deaths, taking the count of infections to 7,27,694 and the toll to 15,627.

Unvaccinated Belgian woman contracted two COVID variants simultaneously

A 90-year-old Belgian woman who died from COVID-19 in March had contracted two variants of coronavirus at the same time, which is believed to be the first documented case of its kind, a scientific congress and Belgian media said on Sunday. The case, discussed at this year's European Congress on Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), shows that it is possible to catch two COVID-19 variants simultaneously, the society that organised the congress said in a statement. The society said the woman became sick with Alpha and Beta types first identified in Britain and South Africa and her doctors said she could have contracted the infections from two different people.

Kerala reports 12,220 COVID-19 cases, 97 deaths

Kerala on Sunday   recorded 12,220 fresh COVID19 cases, pushing the infection caseload to 30,65,336, while the toll rose to 14,586 with 97 more deaths.     Recoveries outnumbered fresh cases with 12,502 people getting cured, taking the total number to 29,35,423, a state government release said.

Nepal's coronavirus tally to touch 700,000-mark

Nepal's coronavirus tally is all set to touch the 700,000mark with 1,831 new infections pushing the total number of cases to 699,088, the health ministry said on Sunday. The countrywide COVID19 death toll increased to 9,382 with 20 more fatalities.

Delhi reports 53 new COVID cases, 3 deaths;  positivity rate at 0.07% 

Delhi reports 53 new #COVID cases (positivity rate - 0.07%), 99 recoveries, and 03 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Active cases: 743
Total recoveries: 14,09,325
Death toll: 25,015

390 beneficiaries applied for Delhi govt's Covid-19 Family Financial Assistance Scheme 

Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam informed  on Sunday that 390 beneficiaries have applied for  the "Chief Minister Covid-19 Family Financial Assistance Scheme". As on 9th July 2021, 220 beneficiaries have applied for pension of ₹2500 per month and 170 beneficiaries applied for ₹50,000 ex gratia amount. So far, a total of 390 applications have been received by the Social Welfare Department under this scheme. The department says that since the scheme has been launched recently, it may take time for the beneficiaries to collect all the documents. But in the coming days, the process of application will be fast tracked. The representatives of the department will go door to door in Delhi to help the beneficiaries fill the application.

Puri Rath Yatra: Tight security deployed, no devotees to be allowed due to COVID-19

#WATCH | Odisha: Final preparations for tomorrow's Rath Yatra in Puri. Tight security deployed. No devotees to be allowed in the Yatra due to COVID-19. "Govt's decision should be followed by all. I request people to watch yatra on TV," says a Daitapati Sevak of Jagannath temple.

COVID positives to be replaced by next best-placed competitor in Olympics athletics event

Track and field athletes who are unable to feature in a particular phase of competition after testing positive for COVID19 during the Tokyo Olympics will be replaced by the nextbest placed competitor from the previous round, according to the SportSpecific Regulations (SSR) announced on Sunday. The regulations developed by the International Olympic Committee and the international federations said the athletes unable to compete due to COVID19 reasons will not be disqualified and will be marked as DNS (Did Not Start).

Israel offers third shot of Pfizer COVID vaccine to adults at risk
Israel said on Sunday it will begin offering a third dose of Pfizer Inc's vaccine to adults with weak immune systems but it was still weighing whether to make the booster available to the general public. The rapid spread of the Delta variant has sent vaccination rates in Israel back up as new infections have risen over the past month from single digits to around 450 a day, and the country has moved to fast-track its next Pfizer shipment. Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said that effective immediately, adults with impaired immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine could get a booster shot, with a decision pending on wider distribution.

Ladakh first UT in India to vaccinate all people with at least one dose of COVID jab: Tsering Namgyal

With the efforts of PM Modi, Health Ministry, and all COVID warriors, Ladakh has become the first Union Territory in the country to vaccinate all people, including guest population, with 1st dose of COVID19 jab: Ladakh BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

No Covid-positive inmate, jail staff currently: Delhi prisons department

The Delhi prisons department currently has no inmate or jail staff who is COVID19 positive, officials said on Sunday.  However, they said Covid appropriate behaviour is still strictly being followed.

Myanmar faces rapid rise in COVID cases, shortage of oxygen supplies

Myanmar is facing a rapid rise in COVID-19 patients and a shortage of oxygen supplies, AP reported. The situation comes as the country is consumed by a bitter and violent political struggle since the military seized power in February after ousting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar had weathered last year's surge by severely restricting travel and securing vaccines from India and China. Her ouster came less than a week after the first jabs were given to health workers. People shunned military hospitals after the takeover and medical workers spearheaded a popular civil disobedience movement. Myanmar's new rulers have ordered oxygen plants to work at full capacity including converting industrial oxygen for the needs of patients.